Protests: Ruto, aides should tame tongues

Kenyans are talking about the causes and possible consequences of the ongoing protests by young people against President William Ruto administration.

A rights group reports that 39 people have been killed and 361 injured during two weeks of demos against the 2024 Finance Bill. 

Most of the victims were killed by the police, who have deployed excessive and disproportionate force.

It is frightening that members of the Ruto administration are cheerleaders of the police crackdown on young people seeking to be heard by a government they consider insensitive to their cries. 

Although Ruto later abandoned the punitive bill, the protesters are now calling for him to resign in a wider campaign against his rule under the hashtag “RutoMustGo”.

This is probably the most sobering crisis to confront Ruto since he took office in September 2022. But it is the reaction of the State that is troubling.

There seems to be a clear disconnect between the language of the young people pushing the anti-tax revolution and the aging political elite that is running government. It should be noted that one of the attributes of Gen-Z is that they detest conformity and misplaced aggression by those in authority. 

Their default position is to oppose the patriarchal attitude of the ruling class that is exemplified by their parents, whom they blame for their predicament. That is why they abhor the condescending lectures from those in authority.

And this is what President Ruto and his security chiefs should know. They should desist from issuing what the young perceive as orders from a group of people who don’t want to be fact-checked. Gen Z don’t want to be instructed in the direction of the old way of doing things. 

Through technology and a good education, these young people are seeking solutions, not false promises from greedy and insecure politicians feeding on taxes that could be used to create opportunities for them.

They value dignity, truth, innovation, and want their talents and abilities respected and recognised. Even more importantly, they want their voices heard. 

That is why President Ruto and his minions should tame their tongues and only speak after seeking good counsel. The continued glorification of opulence, chest-thumping and mockery of young brave Kenyans speaking truth to power won’t silence or delete them or help put out the fires being lit across the country.